Bishop's House, a photo from Pays-de-la-Loire, West

Photographer's Note

Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department (Pays de la Loire region) and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Its inhabitants are called Manceaux and Mancelles. It has been host to the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car race since 1923.

First mentioned by Ptolemy, the Roman city Vindinium was the capital of the Aulerci, a sub tribe of the Aedui. Le Mans is also known as Civitas Cenomanorum (City of the Cenomani). Their city, seized by the Romans in 47 BC, lies in the ancient Roman province of Gallia Lugdunensis. An amphitheatre built in the third century AD is still visible, but the thermae were demolished during the crisis of the third century to build the city's walls, which remain some of the most complete circuit of Gallo-Roman city walling that survives.

As the principal city of Maine, Le Mans was the stage for struggles in the eleventh century between the counts of Anjou and the dukes of Normandy. When the Normans had control of Maine, William the Conqueror was able to invade England successfully; however in 1069 the citizens revolted and expelled the Normans, which led to Hugh being proclaimed count of Maine. Geoffrey V of Anjou married Mathilde in the cathedral, where Henry II Plantagenet, king of England, was baptised.

The city retains a well-preserved old town dating from the medieval period (known as the Cité Plantagenêt or Vieux Mans), where the cobbled streets and half-timbered house fronts provided the setting for Gérard Depardieu in the 1989 film of Cyrano de Bergerac. Most of the pictures in this series were taken in Vieux Mans in rather dreary weather unfortunately.

The above information was extracted from a fairly lengthy article on Wikipedia that can be accessed by clicking here.

Sorry for the slight distortion in this one; the image is a horizontal stitch of two images.

Kofman, papagolf21, jhm, jlbrthnn, gildasjan, Budapestman, pierrefonds, amaryllis, Royaldevon has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

siudzi (23891) 2011-12-27 0:59

Hello Stephen,

You have discovered a really beautiful architecture! Like that design and its amazing decorations. Very well seen and presented. Thanks for sharing.

Warm regards,
Malgorzata

papagolf21 (76569) 2011-12-27 1:01

Bonjour, cher Stephen,
L'intérêt de cette image reste très intéressant quant à la présentation de cette maison (manoir/château) d'un évêque.
Je te souhaite d'excellentes fêtes de fin d'année.
Amitiés.
Philippe

dkmurphys (36819) 2011-12-27 1:50

Hi Stephen,
What a lovely house. I like the architecture and the splendid details everywhere.
Good work, enjoy a fine week.

lousat (57674) 2011-12-27 1:56

Hi Steph,a beautiful architechture and the perfect sky to create this magic atmosphere around the castle,great sharpness,colors and very interesting note too,i like it! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

Gerrit (43743) 2011-12-27 2:11

Hi Stephen,
the bishop is sure living like a king here in Le Mans.
Fine tight crop and the stich is quite well realized.
regards, Gerrit

Fis2 (73114) 2011-12-27 2:31

Witaj mon cher ami!
Wonderful architecture, curious building
Good frame, colors and light.
Well done.
Best regards
Krzysztof

digbymerry (3998) 2011-12-27 2:34

Hello Stephen

I like the colours here. The dark grey sky behind the grey roof of the rather sombre building. It all works well together. Good sharpness and composition.

Best wishes

Digby

jhm (122458) 2011-12-27 3:22

Hello Stephen,

Nevertheless a wonderful picture stitching of two pictures.
Indeed we see a small mistake but not truly disturbing.
Perspective and depth are very pleasant for look at.
Excellent composition, real colors.
Very well done, TFS.

I wish you and your family a healthy 2012,
John.

lakshmip1949 (19110) 2011-12-27 3:25

Hello Stephen,

A lovely house of the Bishop with beautiful architecture. I like the black metal gate and the cobblestone road. The gray sky gives a nice color contrast.

Lakshmi

ChrisJ (86876) 2011-12-27 4:32

Hello Stephen,

A pleasant diffused light with perfect shadow detail. Good sharpness & excellent graphism of the darker building against the lighter sky. Excellent repetition of the turrets & spires. Tfs!

jlbrthnn (79773) 2011-12-27 5:26

Bonjour Stephen,
L'évêché est une superbe demeure historique. Le point de vue choisi décrit efficacement l'architecture. La qualité de la photo est très bonne malgré le ciel gris. Bravo.
Bonne journée
Amicalement
Joël

gildasjan (38220) 2011-12-27 6:16

Bonjour Stephen
Un très bon rendu des couleurs de cette architecture sous ce ciel gris dans la tonalité de teintes des ardoises.Un très bon angle de prise de vue.
Bonne fin d'année
Amicalement
gildas

Nicou (97727) 2011-12-27 7:17

Hello

super cpatage et compo quelle maison de l'évêque il a bien de la chance d'habiter dans une telle demeures, super.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

Budapestman (82620) 2011-12-27 12:05

Hi Stephen,
a superb photo of this beautiful building, the cmposition is attractive, very nice details and POV, TFS! Happy New Year to you and your family!
György

pierrefonds (48353) 2011-12-27 15:19

Hi Stephen,

The tight frame is putting the building in evidence. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the architecture of the Bishop's house. The cloudy sky does not hurt the output of the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

emka (58152) 2011-12-27 23:56

Hi Stepeh, It seem to have a bit barrel distortion, but not important. Nice old stone castlem, or maybe house. it seems still inhabited. interesting note about the history.

WArm regards

MAlgo

amaryllis (30149) 2011-12-28 1:14

Bonjour Snunney
Excellente architecture de cette maison, plutôt manoir, qui date déjà je pense, et un cadrage excellent pour nous en présenter l'intégralité de cette jolie façade
amicalement
Juliette

williewhistler (7283) 2011-12-28 3:41

Hello Stephen,
whilst the lens distortion is slightly off putting the interesting architecture of the House more than makes up for it,I do admire the design of those windows, the actual building most fascinating.
Best regards Les.

Royaldevon (17791) 2011-12-29 2:24

Good Morning Stephen,

This is a beautiful house and so representative of a bishop, with its tall conical towers.
Though the light is not wonderful, you have captured the details with sharpness and clarity.
I love the cobbled road, so in keeping with the building!

All the best for the New Year to you and your family,
Bev :-)

jurek1951 (35765) 2011-12-29 10:51

Hi Stephen,
Beautiful work. Wonderful textures & details... Excellent composition,
Georg